Grammy-Winning Engineer and Music-Industry Veteran David Amlen Releases Heartfelt Tribute Album “Freedom” by Dave and the Divas Featuring Reimagined Classics
State-of-the-Art Sound on Sound Studios in Montclair Serves as Creative Hub for Human-Centered Musical Collaboration
Grammy Award-winning engineer and producer David Amlen announces the release of “Freedom” by Dave and the Divas, a deeply personal tribute album that reimagines five songs from Sir Elton John‘s catalog alongside five compositions by his late sister, Jenny Amlen. The album, released in early 2025, showcases Amlen’s commitment to authentic, human-centered music creation in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence.
“It’s not AI, it’s not robots creating music. This is people – real humans,” emphasizes Amlen, whose philosophy drives every aspect of the project. The album features five accomplished vocalists – Cecile Williams, Iris Schaffer-Hall, Julie Dobrow, Meg Beattie Patrick, and Stacia Thiel – each bringing their unique interpretation to carefully selected tracks.
A Legacy of Excellence Meets Personal Tribute
With over thirty-five years of experience in the entertainment industry, Amlen has overseen the production of 75 gold & platinum-awarded records, totaling more than 100 million records sold worldwide. As founder of Sound on Sound Studios and TEC Award winner for studio design in 2018, Amlen has worked with hundreds of industry legends including David Bowie, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Christian McBride.
The centerpiece song “Freedom,” one of Jenny Amlen’s compositions, carries particular significance. “The three of the songs from Jenny, ‘Freedom,’ ‘Sister,’ and ‘Faith’ – we originally were like, ‘Oh boy, wouldn’t it be great if a political party picked it up and used it as a rallying song for the election?'” Amlen reflects, noting the song’s powerful message of positivity and hope.
From Manhattan to Montclair: A Creative Renaissance
Sound on Sound Studios merged with Right Track Recording to become Legacy Studios in 2005. In 2009 the studio was rebranded as MSR Studios… and operated until late 2016 when Amlen was forced to shut its doors due to constant construction noise in the area. The studio’s rebirth in Montclair in 2018 has created new opportunities for artistic collaboration.
Sound On Sound Studios is a state-of-the-art, spacious, two-room facility featuring a Neve VR and Euphonix S5, located at 1 Greenwood Avenue, Ste. 210, Montclair N.J. The move from Manhattan to Montclair has proven transformative, with real estate prices in Manhattan going up and more affordable rents in the area, relative to New York.
Musical Collaboration and Community Impact
Beyond his studio work, Amlen serves as President of Outpost In The Burbs, a Montclair-based organization that produces concerts to fund a soup kitchen and other local charities. His unique background also includes serving as mayor, deputy mayor, and committeeman for Springfield, NJ, demonstrating his commitment to community service.
The “Freedom” project exemplifies Amlen’s approach to music production, emphasizing organic collaboration over technological shortcuts. “There is a great drummer who works here and he was incredible. It was like three or four takes at most on any song once he got the vibe of it… It’s about the feel, right? It’s not about it being perfect, because if you want perfect, you use drum machines and sequencers, you know? And that’s not satisfying.”
Release and Performance Details
“Freedom” was released in early 2025, followed by a special release show in Montclair. The album represents not only a tribute to Jenny Amlen’s legacy but also a celebration of Sir Elton John’s enduring influence on contemporary music.
About David Amlen
David Amlen is a Grammy Award-winning engineer and producer with more than thirty-five years of experience in the entertainment industry. Starting with a single recording studio that grew into a complex of five recording studios in Manhattan, Amlen has catered to multiple facets of the entertainment industry including music, film, Broadway, television, radio, and advertising. He previously served as president of SPARS, the recording studio industry’s premier organization, and continues active involvement in music creation through producing, engineering, recording, and performing.
